Suella Braverman Sacked Amidst UK Government Shakeup

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Facts

  • UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has undertaken a government reshuffle by firing Suella Braverman from her role as Home Secretary and replacing her with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Returning to politics to assume Clevery's vacant position will be former prime minister David Cameron.1
  • Braverman had most recently accused the Metropolitan Police of bias in favor of pro-Palestine protesters, which resulted in a prominent row within the UK government. Commenting after her sacking, Braverman stated that the role had 'been the greatest privilege of [her] life,' while claiming that she 'will have more to say in due course.'2
  • James Cleverly has described his appointment to the home secretary as an honor, having previously held the role of foreign secretary. Cleverly continued that the 'goal' of his job was 'to keep people in this country safe.'3
  • Sunak's office has confirmed that David Cameron, who occupied the prime minister's office from 2010-2016, has been approved by King Charles III to have a seat in the House of Lords to become foreign secretary. Cameron is not an elected member of the House of Commons.4
  • The last foreign secretary to serve in the House of Lords can be dated back to Peter Carrington under former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Cameron stated that he 'hoped' his six-year experience as prime minister and 11 years as Conservative Party leader would 'assist' Sunak to face 'a daunting set of international challenges.'5
  • Sunak's surprise reshuffle has also seen: Steve Barclay move from health secretary to environment secretary, replacing Therese Coffey, with Victoria Atkins taking up Barclay's previous role; Esther McVey has been appointed a minister without portfolio; Greg Hands has been replaced as Conservative Party chairman by Richard Holden; and Laura Trott has become Treasury Chief Secretary.6

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Independent, 3Evening Standard, 4Reuters, 5CBS and 6ITV News.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by The Guardian. Sunak's latest reshuffle screams only of desperation. While finally axing the hate-filled home secretary, the revival of Cameron from the political graveyard merely reaffirms that the Conservative Party has nothing more to offer than status quo incompetency. Albeit dramatic, today's changes will do little as Labour continues to head towards a landslide victory similar to 1997.
  • Right narrative, as provided by The Sun. While today's bold decisions by Sunak do not come without their dangers, the shocking return of David Cameron at the indirect expense of Suella Braverman will be viewed as an excellent coup. Sunak has, for now, pushed back against his party's right wing while acquiring a political giant in return. While Cameron's foreign policy legacy is by no means smooth, it's his experience that Sunak will draw upon as a general election continues to loom over UK politics.
  • Conservative narrative, as provided by GB News. The sacking of Braverman, a leader of the UK's silent majority, has led to fury. Sunak continues to act with in bad faith, and it is he, rather than the now-former home secretary, who should be finding his way out the door. Braverman executed her job the way Britains actually wanted, but Sunak would rather quiver in the face of liberal criticism than pursue actual popular policies on immigration and policing — including properly policing Pro-Palestine demonstrations.

Predictions